Electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage



Get. 16, 1956 n Rc ss c 2,756,750

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11, 19533 Sheets-Sheet X gIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII ,7

T H w V V x \i\ N IpIIIIIlIlIIIl I Illll 'INVENTOR Get. 16, 1956 M.DARCISSAC 2,766,750

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11,1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 0a. 16, 1956 M. DARclssAc 2 9 v ELECTRO-MECHANICALAPPARATUS FOR VIBRATORY MASSAGE Filed Sept. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3FTTn/KN YS ELECTRO-MECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR VBRATORY MASSAGE MarcelDarcissac, Paris, France Application September 11, 1953, Serial No.379,711

16 Claims. (Cl. 128-242.)

The present invention relates to a small electromechanical apparatusoperating on alternating current of normal frequency for the productionof rapid vibrations which are used for the application of vibratorymassage, in particular on the gums, the necks of the teeth, the teeththemselves or again on other parts of the body.

This apparatus essentially includes a massaging member provided with oneor more pads adapted for the application in question, the said memberbeing associated with an electro-magnetic device supplied withalternating current, in such a way that the pressure applied by means ofthe said member on the part to be treated starts the member vibrating.

This special feature, as well as several others, will become clear fromthe description which follows of an apparatus which is more speciallyintended for massage of the gums and teeth.

Figure la shows a cross-section of the apparatus taken through its axisof symmetry.

Figure lb shows a cross-section at right angles to that axis.

Figure 2a shows in cross-section, the position of the vibrating washerin the position of rest and Figure 2b shows the position of the samewasher when a pressure is brought to bear upon a rod which is integralwith it, in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3 is a corresponding view of the vibrating head of the apparatusin perspective.

Figures 4 and 5 are particularly concerned with methods of supportingand guiding the vibrating plate (in cross-section) Figure 6 is analternative form of the vibratory head of the apparatus having a convexvibrating plate.

Figure 7 shows one form of the member which is intended to transmit thevibration to due part to be treated (vibrating pad).

Figures 8 and 9 show respectively in elevation and in perspective view,another form of the member which comes into contact with the gums, thismember having three vibrating plates by means of which vibrations areapplied to the lateral faces of the teeth and internal and external gumsand on the upper masticating faces of the teeth.

Figures 10 and 11 show in detail the small elastic plates which areplaced in contact with the gums and teeth.

Figures 12 and 13 show methods of fixing the small elastic plates intheir supports.

Figure 14 is a preferred form of the cleaning and vibratory member ofelastic material, this being made in one single piece provided withthree projecting pads fixed by means of a claw support.

Figure 15 is an alternative form of the method of fixmg.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the member such as is shown in Figure14 and Figure 15 with certain variations in detail.

Figures 17 and 18 show constructional details whereby a certain mobilityis given to the member which is applied to the guns, with respect to itssupporting rod.

Figure 19 shows an arrangement of the apparatus for vibratory mechanicalmassage combined with electrical current treatment.

In Figures 1a and 1b, 2 is a tube of magnetic material such as mildsteel, of high permeability, which forms the core of another tube 1 ofthe same material but of larger diameter with which it is co-axial.About the central tube, there is wound a coil 61 of electric wire whichtakes up almost all the space between the two tubes. The magneticcircuit is closed at the base by a magnetic washer 3, and at the head bya magnetic disc 4 which constitutes the vibratory portion, the said discbeing rigidly fixed to a rod t of any particular crosssection, made ofinsulating material having sufiicient strength. The interior tube 2 isfitted with a small magnetic plug 5 in which there is formed a hollowedout portion which is engaged by a stud 10 carried by the internalportion of the plate 4 and at its centre, suflicient play being leftbetween the stud and the hollowed out portion.

The external tube is covered by an insulating sleeve 7 in plastic,varnished, or enamel, etc. material which provides full protectionagainst accidental contact between a wire under voltage to earth, andfor the same reason, the two extremities are fitted with insulatingwashers 81 and 82. A small insulating washer 9 which has only a verysmall play, completes the electrical protective arrangement. The twooutput connection wires 62 of the coil end, as shown, in an ordinaryelectrical plug 11.

The form of revolution of the apparatus gives the maximum attractiveforce on the washer 4, when the internal winding is excited, with theminimum volume. It is very convenient and suitable for holding with onehand only.

This shape has, however, the drawback of setting up concentric eddycurrents in the core and this reduces the efficiency and may result inheating of the magnetic carcase. For this reason, it has been arrangedto construct the entire magnetic casing in a powdered iron aggregatemixed with a strong cold binder such as is used for many otherapplications in electrical practice.

In a more economical way, tubes of ordinary soft iron can be used with aslot along the whole of their longitudinal length, as shown in Figurelb.

The vibrating plate 4 is applied directly to the external tube withoutany air-gap and its slightly conical periphery fits into thecorresponding conical female portion of the tube.

The operation is as follows:

When the coil is supplied with current, the magnetic plate 4 is stronglyattracted towards the tubes since the flux passes in the centre tubefollowing the axis, and in the external tube following its generatorlines, passing radially through the plate 4. If a slight pressure isapplied to the extremity of the rod 1, at right angles to the axis andin any radial direction at all, the plate pivots and is slightly raisedat the side at which the pressure is applied. There is thus set up asmall air-gap as shown in Figure 2b between the plate, looked at fromthe edges of the external tube, and the core 2. In these conditions, theforce of attraction varies with each half-wave, being a maximum for themaximum amplitude of the current and zero at the moment when the currentchanges sign, which corresponds to one hundred vibrations per secondwith a supply frequency of fifty periods per second.

It is the pressure applied to the extremity of the rod 2 which separatesthe plate from the tube for each passage of the current through zero. Asall the parts of the device are symmetrical and circular, this elfect isproduced in every radial direction in a plane at right angles to theaxis of symmetry. In order to obtain the maximum efiect, the contactwith the core 2 should be broken and, for that reason, it has beenthought desirable to provide a magnetic plug 5 having a smaller diameterthan the tube 2 in order to ensure a complete separation.

Although the plate is already retained about its periphery of the washer32, in accordance with Figure la, it is located centrally by means of astud which may be carried on the core itself (see Figure 4) or by theplate as shown at in Figure 5, where it is guided by a circular orificehaving sufiicient play to allow the plate 4 to have the necessary angleof inclination required to set up the vibration. A very small air-gap ofthe order of a few tenths of a millimeter between the plate 4 and thecircular electromagnet is sufficient to create intense vibrations. Dueto the fact that the relation between the length of the rod t and theradius of the plate is quite high, there are obtained at the extremityof the rod the amplitudes of the oscillations necessary to the desiredobject. On the other hand, the insulating cover 82 (Figure 1a) preventsthe plate from becoming completely detached if the pressure applied tothe extremity of the rod exceeds the restoring attraction.

In Figure 6, there has been shown an alternative shape of the vibratinghead, the plate 4 having a convex shape and the extremity of the corebeing formed like a mushroom.

Figure 7 shows the element which is intended to be applied to the partof the gums or the teeth to be treated.

It is made up of a pad in a flexible material such as, for example,ordinary or sponge rubber 12, provided with grooves and fixed rigidly tothe extremity of the rod t.

Owing to the fact that there is produced a vibratory reaction for anyslight displacement of the rod t on any side of the axis of symmetry andin any direction of displacement, it is possible to carry out vibratorymassage on difierent parts by pressing the extremity of the rod slightlyin one direction or the other by a very slight movement of the hand.

In the case of the usual application to the massage of the necks of theteeth, it is possible to treat at the same time the external andinternal parts of the upper and lower jaws, the gums and the teeth andon the upper faces of the teeth.

For this purpose, there is fitted to the extremity of the rod ta specialsupport 13 (see Figure 8) to which rubber pads are removably attached,similar to that which is shown at 12 in Figure 7. There are three ofthese pads provided, in and 172 for the lateral faces of the teeth andbe for the upper faces. The tooth 14 is shown in section. that they donot come in contact with the tooth at the same time and thus the desiredefiect can be obtained successively by slight pressure on the on side oron the other. By lowering the support 13, the pad be comes into contactwith the upper part of the tooth. In order to take account of thedifferences in height of the teeth with respect to the gums, the pad beis made very elastic in the direction of pressure either by mounting iton an elastic support or simply by means of hollowed out portions formedin the pad.

Figure 9 shows in perspective the vibratory support 13 provided with thethree pads b1, b2 and 173.

Figure 10 and Figure 11 show the details of the cushions, pads or smallplates in plastic material, shaped with grooves of saw-toothed form,etc. or they may he in porous rubber or other material.

In Figure 12, there has been shown 58. detach-able method of fixing thethree applicator plates which vibrate. The latter are made of rubber andhave moulded on their reverse sides male projections 18 which areengaged by pressure in the female openings of the support 16 in the sameway as press-studs. Since the pads are not subjected to any pullingeffect, but are forced on the contrary against the support, a firmattachment is obtained.

The pads b1 and b2 are spaced apart sufficiently so In exactly the sameway, Figure 13 shows an alternative form of detachable housing of theelastic pad in in the support 17.

A preferred arrangement consists in making the three pads of one singlepiece of flexible rubber, as shown in Figure 14.

Th whole member is inserted into the support 13 by closing togetherbetween the fingers the extremities b1 and b2 so as to bring them closertogether until the gripping claws of the support 13 engage in. the holesformed in the pads in and be as shown in the figure. The spring of themember which tends to separate in and b2 ensures a rigid support inconjunction with the claws.

Figure 15 is an alternative shape of the arrangement shown in Figure 14.The rubber member b1, b2, be is inserted in the same way by forcingtogether In and be which enables the shouldered portions to be lodgedWithin the supporting members 13. The fixing arrangements may becompleted by providing the member 13 with a stud 23, the rubber bodyhaving a blind hole in which the stud engages. A hollow oval portion 15gives a high degree of elasticity to the pad b3.

Figure 16 shows in perspective the complete unit of the member fordental treatment, which is made of one single piece of rubber and isdirectly mounted on the end of the vibratory rod 2.

The difierent parts, however, do not have the same degree of elasticity.This elfect is obtained either by chemical treatment of the parts or bymechanical means, the use of spongy materials, hollowed out portionssuch as 15, etc. or by internal metallic ribs 20 moulded integrally withthe body and intended to ensure the rigidity of the support, properlyso-called, or again by making the support semi-rigid in the shape of apointed arch with built-on pads of a very elastic type, welded to theassembly as is currently done with rubber and its derivatives.

A small elastic sleeve 24 has been provided between the rod t and thesupport so that the support may have slightinclinations with respect tothe remainder of the apparatus.

Or again, a ball-joint member 21 may b arranged at the end of the rod 1(Figure 17 and Figure 18) which enables the member supporting the padsto be given different angular directions with respect to the apparatuswhilst at the same time the manipulation is extremely easy.

Figure 19 shows an important improvement of the apparatus by means ofwhich the mechanical vibratory ac: tion may be combined with an electriclow-voltage current treatment.

At 25, there is shown a small winding which is coaxial with the core andis wound with fine wire perfectly insulated from earth by a tube andinsulating cheek, not shown.

The transformation ratio between this coil and the main winding 6 is of.the order of 100, so that there is obtained a few volts at theextremities of the winding 25 for a normal voltage of supply of volts.The entry of the winding ends in a metallic bracelet 26 which is set inthe insulating case 7, and the outgoing extremity in an electrode 28through the rod z which is of strong insulating material.

A high resistance, constituted by a small rod 27 of carbon material,graphite, etc., is included in the capacity circuit which gives a verysmall current practically independent of the electrical contactresistance of the pads. When the apparatus is held in the hand incontact with 26 and the electrode 28 is applied to the part to betreated, the circuit is completed through thatpart. The electrode ismade up of a metallic portion covered with a moist chamois leather or bya semi-conducting material (conductive rubber, etc.)

It will be noted that the apparatus provides absolute security from theelectrical point of view, in view of the fact that all the elementsunder the voltage of supply are carefully insulated and completelyseparated from the low voltage of faradisation.

Generally speaking, in the case of the apparatus having only amechanical action, any possibility of accidental connection to earth ofthe wires cannot have any ill-efiects since there are no exposed metalparts, and the body of the insulating casing completely encloses theapparatus. In addition, the vibratory rod is made of insulating materialhaving a very high resistance.

What I claim is:

1. An electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage operating onalternating current, comprising in combination, a magnetic core, anelectric winding around and insulated from said core, means forconnecting said winding to a source of alternating current, a tubularelement of magnetic material around said winding, an end element ofmagnetic material closing one extremity of said tubular element, a discof magnetic material adapted to close the other extremity of saidtubular element and movably associated therewith, an applicator memberassociated rigidly with said disc and designed to be applied on the partof the body to be treated, the arrangement being such that lateralpressure exerted on said applicator rocks said disc, thereby introducingan air gap in the formerly closed magnetic circuit, whereby vibrationsare produced in said disc and are transmitted to said applicator member.

2. An electromechanical apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidmagnetic material is composed of a powdered iron aggregate to reduceeddy-current losses.

3. An electro-mechanical apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein saiddisc has bevelled edges, the corresponding extremity of said tubularelement being bevelled too.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said bevelled disc is providedwith a stud at the center of its internal face, said core having acircular cavity in its corresponding extremity.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said disc is of convex shape, thecorresponding extermity of said core being shaped like a mushroom.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said core is constituted by a tubeof magnetic material.

7. An electro-rnechanical apparatus for vibratory massage operating onalternating current, comprising in combination, a magnetic core, anelectrical winding around and insulated from said core, means forconnecting said winding to a source of alternating current, a tubularelement of magnetic material around said winding, an end plate ofmagnetic material closing one extremity of said tubular element, a discof magnetic material adapted to close the other extremity of saidtubular element and movably associated therewith, a casing of insulatingmaterial enclosing the apparatus herein before specified, anapplicatorrod rigidly fixed centrally of said disc by one of itsextremities and projecting through said casing, and an applicator headmounted on the other extremity of said rod, the arrangement being suchthat lateral pressure applied to said applicator rod rocks the saiddisc, thereby introducing a small air-gap in the formerly closedmagnetic circuit, whereby vibrations at twice the frequency of thealternating supply source are produced in said disc and are transmittedto said applicator.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein an insulating washer is mounted onsaid rod adjacent said casing.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises anarch-shaped member, a plurality of massaging pads of elastic materialand means for detachably securing said pads to said arch member.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said means for detachablysecuring said massaging pads comprises male projections formed on therear faces of said pads and adapted to be engaged by pressure inhollowed out portions formed in said arch member.

11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises anarch-shaped member of plastic material, projections formed inwardly ofthe extremities of said arch-member, a plurality of massaging pads ofelastic material, said pads being formed from and constituting one pieceof said elastic material, said piece of elastic material being adaptedto be removably engaged in said arch-member and provided with recessesadapted to receive said projections.

12. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head comprises anarch-shaped member of resilient material integrally molded with aplurality of metallic reinforcement members and a pluraity of elasticmassaging pads located on the internal face of said arch-shaped member.

13. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator rod includes aportion made of elastic material.

14. The combination of claim 7 wherein said applicator head is fixed tosaid applicator rod by means of a universal joint.

15. An electro-mechanical apparatus for vibratory massage andlow-voltage electrical treatment (faradisation) comprising a magneticcore, a main electrical winding around and insulated from said core, asecond small electrical winding around said core adjacent and insulatedfrom said main winding and said core, a tubular element of magneticmaterial surrounding said two windings, an end-plate of magneticmaterial closing one extremity of said tubular element, a disc adaptedto close the other extremity of said tubular element, and movablyassociated therewith, a tubular casing of insulating material arrangedto enclose the apparatus hereinbefore specified, a hollow applicator-rodfixed centrally of said bevelled disc and an applicator-head ofsemi-conducting material mounted on said rod, a circular metallic bandinset in the external face of said insulating casing, said band beingconnected to one side of said second small electrical wind ing, aconnection from the other side of said small winding to saidapplicator-head through said hollow rod, a sol-id resistor in saidconnection, means for applying mains alternating voltage to said firstmain winding, whereby a current of very low voltage may be applied tothe parts of the body between said metallic band and saidapplicator-head, mechanical vibrations being also applied to saidapplicator-head at will by means of a lateral pressure applied to saidapplicator in any lateral direction.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said disc has bevelled edges,the corresponding extremity of said tubular element being bevelled too.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS320,436 Hock June 16, 1885 1,002,468 Strangm-an Sept. 5, 1911 1,137,916Simmons May 4, 1915 1,687,079 Barker Oct. 9, 1928 1,707,118 GoldbergMar. 26, 1929 2,021,968 Scheidegger Nov. 26, 1935 2,319,205 Buck May 18,1943

